Intense magician Aaron Crow almost impaled Simon Cowell’s hand on a huge hunting knife and was warned his act ‘took too long’ and ‘wasn’t thrilling.’
But the chisel-jawed 49-year-old beat the odds and managed to get the very last spot in this season’s America’s Got Talent semifinals.
After five acts went through automatically in viewers’ votes, Aaron had been up against opera singer Daniel Emmet and dance group The Future Kingz for the final two spots.
Tough: Aaron Crow managed to beat the odds and managed to get the very last spot in this season’s America’s Got Talent semifinals
Ouch: He had almost impaled Simon Cowell’s hand on a huge hunting knife and was warned his act ‘took too long’ and ‘wasn’t thrilling’
‘I like all three acts, I really, really do,’ Simon had insisted. ‘This is gonna be really tough.’
Daniel — the Wild Card act who Heidi told would have got her golden buzzer had she had one — broke into tears when he was the first through thanks to the live voting in the Dunkin’ Saves viewers’ vote.
‘I am overwhelmed, I can’t even speak,’ he said through his tears. ‘It is because of America that I’m back and now they’ve brought me back again. I’m going to do my best to earn this save and make you proud.’
‘You are the most beautiful human being with the most beautiful voice,’ Heidi Klum told him.
Happy: The man of few words said ‘nice’ as he was voted to move on
Tense: The magician was satisfied to make it to the next round
Three remain: Aaron along with Daniel Emmet and The Future Kings were featured in the last segment as one was picked by judges, one was picked by the audience, and the other went home
Then the judges had to decide on the very last spot — with Heidi Klum and Mel B surprising everyone by both picking Aaron despite their harsh criticism the previous night, with Mel having even buzzed for him to leave.
‘It was boring last night — but what you’ve done in the past has been genius,’ Mel insisted, joking: ‘But Aaron, if you do get through, don’t use me next, OK? Just saying.’
Simon, who had been part of Aaron’s act and almost got his hand impaled until a last second save, went for the Chicago-based dance crew, saying: ‘The truth is I don’t want to nearly die again, I’m going to vote for the Future Kingz.’
On the prowl: Daniel was the Wild Card act who Heidi told would have got her golden buzzer had she had one
Emotional: He broke into tears when he was the first through thanks to the live voting in the Dunkin’ Saves viewers’ vote
Big fan: ‘You are the most beautiful human being with the most beautiful voice,’ Heidi Klum told him
Squad: The judges and host Tyra Banks definitely seemed to have a blast togther
Howie then held his hands on his head as he struggled with the deciding vote — before finally standing and pointing at Aaron.
‘Nice,’ said the magician quietly to Tyra, who teased him for never saying anything.
The first few acts through suggested that the judges were on point, with viewers agreeing with their favorites.
Married couple Us The Duo — who moved Mel to tears with a ing dedicated to their unborn child — got the first spot, with expectant mom Carissa Alvarado saying: ‘We’re just so excited that we got to share the stage with our baby girl. So thank you for this memory that we;’ll never forget.’
Talented: Married couple Us The Duo — who moved Mel to tears with a ing dedicated to their unborn child — got the first spot
Touched: Carissa Alvarado said ‘We’re just so excited that we got to share the stage with our baby girl. So thank you for this memory that we;’ll never forget’
Aww: Mel again got emotional at the pick, telling them: ‘I love you guys and I love what you did last night. You bring that extra something special, and the fact that we can your love — you’re just glowing’
Ouch: Their spot saw the exit of flamboyant fan favorite Hans
Mel again got emotional at the pick, telling them: ‘I love you guys and I love what you did last night. You bring that extra something special, and the fact that we can your love — you’re just glowing.’
Their spot saw the exit of flamboyant fan favorite Hans, with host Tyra Banks running up to him and saying: ‘I’m gonna miss my Hans, give me a kiss.’
Mel was even more upset, saying: ‘Hans — I need my glitz and my glamor still! I wish you could both go through.’
Oh no: Mel was upset, saying: ‘Hans — I need my glitz and my glamor still! I wish you could both go through’
Mutual feelings: Hans was also shown embracing Mel as he told her: ‘When I was a teenage boy I used to lock myself in my room and listen to Spice Girls all the time’
Earlier, footage from the previous night confirmed how she really did not realize that he had been singing one of her own hits, the Spice Girls’ Spice Up Your Life, with Simon teasing her: ‘You didn’t write that song. Were you actually in the room when this was written?’
Hans was also shown embracing Mel as he told her: ‘When I was a teenage boy I used to lock myself in my room and listen to Spice Girls all the time.’
Brave violinist Brian King Joseph, who has a nerve disease that is making his hands numb and could force him to stop playing, broke into tears was next through, saying: This means everything to me because it’s not just me it’s all of you behind me. It’s giving me the strength to go on.’
Star: Brave violinist Brian King Joseph, who has a nerve disease that is making his hands numb and could force him to stop playing, also advanced
Touched: He broke into tears and said: This means everything to me because it’s not just me it’s all of you behind me. It’s giving me the strength to go on’
‘You are a rock star of a violinist and we are very, very proud and lucky to have you here,’ Heidi told him. ‘Also you’re so, so nice and super humble.’
His spot meant the end for singer Joseph O’Brien, the 20-year-old self-confessed ‘hopeless romantic’ who has never been kissed.
Michael Ketterer, the singer who had Simon in tears and barely able to speak, was next through, saying: ‘I want to thank you Simon for seeing something in me and giving me this opportunity. It’s incredible.’
Simon admitted he was emotional again at seeing the dad who has adopted several kids in crisis get through, saying: ‘I think the world of Michael. You’re going all the way I think.’
Heart of gold: Michael Ketterer, the singer who had Simon in tears and barely able to speak, was next through
Christina Wells, the powerhouse vocalist who Simon claimed would have Broadway shows clamoring to have her, had assumed Michael’s spot meant she was out, with Simon also seeming emotional at the thought of her not making the cut.
But Tyra surprised her by saying she was through, too, with Christina pumping her hands with excitement and squeezing Tyra with joy as she thanked her sons and mother.
‘We all believe in you,’ Howie told her. ‘You’re not lucky to be here — you should be here. I believe you can go all the way.’
She then vowed: ‘I know that I sing with more passion than perfection, but I’m going to sing with every ounce of me when I come back for these semi-finals, baby.’
Uber talented: Christina Wells, the powerhouse vocalist who Simon claimed would have Broadway shows clamoring to have her, had assumed Michael’s spot meant she was out, with Simon also seeming emotional at the thought of her not making the cut
Joyous: But Tyra surprised her by saying she was through, too, with Christina pumping her hands with excitement and squeezing Tyra with joy as she thanked her sons and mother
Their spots meant the end for illusionist Rob Lake, who had consistently failed to wow Simon who found his act to ‘corny.’
The final spot went to Tyra’s golden buzzer pick, the aerial dance troupe Zurcaroh, who Simon had called ‘the best live performances I’ve ever seen on an America’s Got Talent.’
‘You are the epitome of what this competition is all about, genuinely,’ he told them after they got through, with Siberian dance crew UDI Dance the last to go home without making the Dunkin’ Saves live vote.
Burn: Their spots meant the end for illusionist Rob Lake, who had consistently failed to wow Simon who found his act to ‘corny’
Cheering: The final spot went to Tyra’s golden buzzer pick, the aerial dance troupe Zurcaroh, who Simon had called ‘the best live performances I’ve ever seen on an America’s Got Talent’
Tough act to follow: Simon told them ‘You are the epitome of what this competition is all about, genuinely’
Also in the show, Tyra had called Simon a ‘very sexy man’ as they showed footage related to him getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with his fellow judges giving him a standing ovation — but only after Mel complained: ‘We’re showing it again?’
His young son Eric soon stole the show, however, running on to climb on his dad’s lap, grabbing the mic and saying: ‘I’m the biggest star ever.’
‘Can we just play that one more time,’ Simon joked of the pre-packaged tribute to him, getting emotional as he called it ‘one of the best days of my life’ as Eric continued making noise into the microphone.
The cast of Beautiful, the Carole King Musical, also made a special performance of some of the biggest hits from the show — including (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman as a tribute to Aretha Franklin who died earlier this month.
Big show:The cast of Beautiful, the Carole King Musical, also made a special performance of some of the biggest hits from the show — including (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman as a tribute to Aretha Franklin who died earlier this month
Rolling on: America’s Got Talent will return for the semi-finals on Tuesday at 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week